Bentley Continental GT3 Sheds Over 2,000 Pounds, Makes 600-HP

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One of the world’s most spectacular looking race cars, Bentley has today revealed full specs on its awesome Continental GT3.

In an effort to save weight, the iconic W12 has been passed over in favor of the brand’s new turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 engine, which in the race car has been pushed to an amazing 600 hp.

That output is enough to make for impressive performance stats in even the road car, but this track machine will deliver next-level performance thanks to a dramatic weight loss. A porker by any standards, engineers were able to slash 2,200 lbs of weight from the overall car. As a result, the Continental GT3 is under its target weight of 1,300 kg (2,866 lbs).

Part of that weight savings comes from abandoning the AWD system that’s standard on the road car, instead sending power to the rear wheels using a carbon fiber driveshaft and a six-speed Xtrac sequential transmission.

Inside, the fine wood and luxurious leather may have been stripped out but Bentley insists its will a hand-crafted masterpiece, with the steering wheel, door pulls and seat all hand-trimmed by the brand’s experts at its factory in Crewe.

“The Continental GT3 exploits the incredible performance beneath the skin of every Continental GT,” said Bentley engineering boss Rolf Frech. “We’ve removed over 1000 kilograms of weight, reconfigured our 4.0-litre V8 to produce 600 bhp in race specification, and developed a comprehensive aerodynamic package to ensure that we perform competitively. We are now looking forward to getting the car on the track and proving its potential.”

The Bentley Continental GT3 will make its debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this weekend and will participate in the event’s hill climb. From there it will undergo testing in preparation for its first races later this year as Bentley prepares for a full season of competition in the 2014 FIA Blancpain Series.